Gold Penny
Gold Penny Lab
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to convert a regular penny into a “gold” penny.
Background:
Chemistry is a branch of physical science that studies the composition, properties and behavior of matter (www.acs.org). Sodium hydroxide is considered to be a strong base because it breaks up in water. When mixed with certain metals it produces potentially explosive hydrogen gas. Many alchemists believed that doing certain chemical reactions that they would be able to change metals into gold. An alloy is a mixture of different metals and is technically considered solutions. In 1983, pennies were made with a mixture of both zinc and copper until after when they were made if zinc as the core and copper as the covering.
Hypothesis:
If copper is heated and coated with zinc, a golden coloration will be produced.
Materials:
- Zinc (Zn)
- Penny (two if desired)
- Hot Plate
- Goggles
- Apron
- Beaker
- Graduated Cylinder
- Beaker Tongs
- Towel
- Scoopula
- Triple Beam Balance
- Stopwatch
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
Safety:
It is imperative to use goggles, aprons, and closed toe shoes for this lab. The chemicals in this lab are harmful and can cause serious injury and irritation. This lab uses a strong sodium Hydroxide and can burn the skin. If this should happen to occur wash thoroughly.
Procedures/ Results/ Observations: Before the experiment: Zinc was a solid, powdery, gray substance. The Sodium Hydroxide was a clear, colorless solution. After experiment: When the zinc and the sodium hydroxide were together in the beaker being heated, the sodium hydroxide became a cloudy white with bubbles. The zinc stuck to
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to convert a regular penny into a “gold” penny.
Background:
Chemistry is a branch of physical science that studies the composition, properties and behavior of matter (www.acs.org). Sodium hydroxide is considered to be a strong base because it breaks up in water. When mixed with certain metals it produces potentially explosive hydrogen gas. Many alchemists believed that doing certain chemical reactions that they would be able to change metals into gold. An alloy is a mixture of different metals and is technically considered solutions. In 1983, pennies were made with a mixture of both zinc and copper until after when they were made if zinc as the core and copper as the covering.
Hypothesis:
If copper is heated and coated with zinc, a golden coloration will be produced.
Materials:
- Zinc (Zn)
- Penny (two if desired)
- Hot Plate
- Goggles
- Apron
- Beaker
- Graduated Cylinder
- Beaker Tongs
- Towel
- Scoopula
- Triple Beam Balance
- Stopwatch
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
Safety:
It is imperative to use goggles, aprons, and closed toe shoes for this lab. The chemicals in this lab are harmful and can cause serious injury and irritation. This lab uses a strong sodium Hydroxide and can burn the skin. If this should happen to occur wash thoroughly.
Procedures/ Results/ Observations: Before the experiment: Zinc was a solid, powdery, gray substance. The Sodium Hydroxide was a clear, colorless solution. After experiment: When the zinc and the sodium hydroxide were together in the beaker being heated, the sodium hydroxide became a cloudy white with bubbles. The zinc stuck to